1. An approach towards Zero-Waste wastewater technology: Fluoxetine adsorption on biochar and removal by the sulfate radical
- Author
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M. Ángeles Sanromán, Uxía Penelas, Silvia Escudero-Curiel, and Marta Pazos
- Subjects
Environmental Engineering ,Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis ,0208 environmental biotechnology ,02 engineering and technology ,010501 environmental sciences ,Wastewater ,01 natural sciences ,Matrix (chemical analysis) ,chemistry.chemical_compound ,Adsorption ,Hazardous waste ,Fluoxetine ,Biochar ,Environmental Chemistry ,Freundlich equation ,0105 earth and related environmental sciences ,Pollutant ,Chemistry ,Sulfates ,Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health ,General Medicine ,General Chemistry ,Pollution ,020801 environmental engineering ,Kinetics ,Environmental chemistry ,Charcoal ,Citric acid ,Water Pollutants, Chemical - Abstract
The appearance of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environments has become a serious problem because of their hazardous effect on the biota. Therefore, great efforts are focussed in the removal to these pollutants from wastewaters. In this study, an innovative technology based on the principles of Zero-Waste for the management of wastewater streams is presented. Hence, adsorption of fluoxetine (FLX), selected as a model pollutant, in an eco-friendly adsorbent, biochar, was followed by an in situ removal of the pharmaceutical in the solid matrix by the action of sulfate radicals. Initially, an in-depth characterisation of the adsorbent and the adsorption process was carried out. The pseudo-second order kinetic and Freundlich isotherm described well the process, and the electrostatic attractions were revealed as the primary adsorption mechanism. Later, the removal of the FLX was studied by the sulfate radicals, in the presence of activators (Fe2+ and citric acid), in liquid and onto the biochar medium. It was concluded that in order to enhance the pollutant removal it is necessary the presence of both activators in liquid media. However, in in situ removal onto biochar, it was not necessary the Fe2+ presence and only the addition of complexing agents was required as a result of biochar's mineral content. Finally, the applicability of the proposed approach was studied in fixed-bed column assays where the adsorption and the removal of the pollutant were efficiently accomplished. This fact confirms the suitability of the developed process as a viable alternative in the treatment of wastewaters.
- Published
- 2020